Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen (CPH) | Direct flight to Nuuk | About 4.5–5 hours | The main route; year-round |
| Keflavík, Iceland (KEF) | Flight to Nuuk or Ilulissat | About 3–3.5 hours | Seasonal direct flights to Ilulissat; check schedules |
| Nuuk (GOH) | Domestic flight to Ilulissat | About 1 h 20 min | Several a day in summer; often delayed by weather |
| Nuuk | Coastal ferry to Ilulissat | About 2 days | Weekly sailing, roughly April to early January |
| Ilulissat | Boat to Disko Island | About 2–3 hours | Summer service; ice dependent |
| Ilulissat | Boat to Eqi glacier | About 4–5 hours each way | Day trip or overnight |
Flights
Since Nuuk’s new runway opened in November 2024, most international passengers arrive there rather than at the old hub of Kangerlussuaq. There are flights from Copenhagen all year, from Iceland, and seasonal services from North America; routes are still changing, so check current timetables. A new, longer runway at Ilulissat is under construction and is expected to allow direct international flights once it opens — confirm the status before you book. Until then, the last leg is by propeller aircraft from Nuuk.
By ferry
The coastal ship Sarfaq Ittuk sails once a week between Qaqortoq in the south and Ilulissat, calling at Nuuk, Sisimiut and other towns. It is how many Greenlanders travel, with cabins, couchettes and a cafeteria, and it is one of the great slow journeys of the Arctic. Sailing one way and flying the other works well. Book cabins months ahead for summer.
Entry rules
Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark but is not in the European Union or the Schengen area. Nationals who can enter Denmark without a visa can generally enter Greenland too; those who need a visa must have one specifically valid for Greenland — an ordinary Schengen visa is not enough. Everyone should carry a passport. Check the Danish immigration service’s current guidance.
Getting around locally
- Ilulissat is walkable, though hilly; taxis and a town bus cover the 3–4 km to the airport and the hotels at either end.
- There are no roads out of town. Settlements such as Oqaatsut and Ilimanaq are reached by boat in summer, by dog sled or snowmobile in winter.
- Local operators’ desks and hotel receptions sell boat and helicopter seats; popular trips sell out days ahead in summer.
- The currency is the Danish krone. Cards work in towns; carry some cash for settlements and craft sellers.
- Mobile data is available in towns but roaming is costly; hotels have Wi-Fi.
